All I could do was hold her hand as Tobias jabbed the device against her thigh, then glanced at his father for praise.
I’d been shocked at the drug’s quick effect. Panicked, too. The sudden crumple of Chloe’s body made me question if something far more sinister had been injected into her system.
Something lethal.
But her pulse remained strong. Her breathing even.
Now, all I have to do is mimic the process, only on a man far bigger and stronger than I am.
There’s no room for reluctance. I need to snatch the tube strategically placed in the waistband of my cream pants and strike without hesitation.
That is, if I can get close enough to my target.
“Penny?” Tobias glances up at me, his arms clinging around my hips. His hold tightens whenever we hit a bump in the water, yet the emotion peering up at me has nothing to do with the rough ride.
He’s petrified.
Underneath the force calm, I am, too.
The new scenery should be a welcomed distraction from my regular confinement but I don’t like being out here. Exposure coats my skin. I lose hold of even more of my strength in this great unknown.
As sickening as it is to admit to myself, I feel more at ease in my gilded cage. I know what to expect in my torture chamber. I’m entirely susceptible here.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about. You’re going to be fine.” I fake a smile even though it sickens me to lie to him. “It’s all for the best, remember? Your dad is helping Cole. He’s taking him away from the bad people.”
Tobias’s lips move in an indecipherable response. I can’t hear him over the rush of ocean and the whirl of wind through my hair.
“It’s okay.” I crouch to his level and look him in the eye as Luther and Chris stand at the steering wheel a few yards away.
“No. That man was nice to you.”
“That man?” I frown. “Your brother?”
“No, the other man. The one you were angry with. He’s nice. He’s Cole’s friend. He’s not bad… is he?”
Everything inside me clenches—stomach, throat, lungs.
There’s still so much goodness left in this vulnerable child. I’m proud of him for being able to see past his father’s lies to think for himself.
“He’s not a nice man, Toby.” I grab his hand and entwine our fingers. “He only acts that way.”
I’ve had to remind myself of the same truth since the moment Luca approached me in the kitchen.
His intentions weren’t kind. They were cruel. He knew exactly what to say to gain a reaction out of me. He’s a skilled manipulator. An accomplished sadist.
“Everything will be fine.” I squeeze those tiny fingers. “Your dad would never let anything happen to you.”
His eyes remain riveted on mine, uncertainty staring back at me.
“I promise.” My assurance is yet another lie.
I can’t be sure of anything anymore. I’m not even certain this excursion isn’t a trick. Or a test. All I know is that Luther will hand me over to his son as a peace offering and then try to facilitate a private moment for me to be alone with Luca.
“Tobias, you’re going to make your father proud. He believes in you and so do I.” I stand and turn my attention to the inky ocean, no longer able to watch his suffering. “We’ll be okay.”
We continue to bound over the water’s surface, the tiniest glow of the upcoming sunrise barely visible against the boat’s bright headlight.
A darkened pier comes into view on the island we approach, with another boat lying in wait. Slowly, a man is illuminated, his features unmistakable even from this distance.
Cole.
He’s wearing a business suit, his tight expression a clear indicator of our lack of welcome.
His demeanor doesn’t change when the boat’s engine is cut and the vessel is tied in place alongside the pier. He just stands there, tension ebbing off him.
“What are you doing here?” He crosses his arms over his chest, his stylish jacket defining his muscled arms and shoulders.
“Morning, son.” Luther walks to the side of the boat and holds out his hand for me to take. “We need to talk.”
I remain quiet as I’m helped from the vessel, my bare feet dragging along the wooden pier.
I let their conversation wash through me. I acknowledge the aggressive chitchat and Luther’s promise of not being armed. But my attention is focused on the darkness of the island, trying to find the target for my attack.